SAFETY AT THE LIKONI
FERRY
The Likoni
Ferry is a pedestrian and vehicular ferry transit operating across the
Kilindini harbor waterway in Mombasa Kenya. It starts operating in 1937. It is
operated by the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS), serving both the Island City of
Mombasa and the Kenyan mainland town of Likoni. The double-ended ferries
alternate across the harbor, carrying both roads and foot traffic. Passengers’
services are free while vehicles have to pay a ferry toll.
Safety is the
state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent
under defined conditions. This is one of the prime strategic objectives and
corporate mission in the Likoni ferry. The safety encompasses both the ferry
operations and the office set ups.
Safety
equipments and procedures are well documented and regularly revised in line
with the changing demands. Furthermore, the KFS undertakes public awareness
campaigns to sensitize their customers on the need to adhere to their rules of
carriage.
The ferries
are always equipped with ample safety appliances for use in the event of
unlikely emergencies and such are regularly subjected to external examination
by globally reputed experts in the field of safety.
There are
life saving appliances, fire fighting appliances and communication equipment on
board each ferry and off shore, for instance there are VHF Radio and Public
Address Systems.
The staffs
are also well trained in first aid, life saving, fire fighting, man-overboard
and many other safety skills, and regularly get refresher courses to ensure
they remain live to the safety requirements.
KFS has put
in place elaborate security measures intended to forestall any breakdown in
security procedures. The Kenya Police and hired private guards are always at
hand to ensure compliance to security requirements by the users. The
corporation also works in collaboration with the Port Police and has built two
police booths both on the island side and on the mainland to ensure full time
presence of the police.
A recent
security audit certified KFS ltd compliant with International Ship and Port
Security Facility code (ISPS) by virtue of measures undertaken to comply with
the provisions of that code. Some of the requirements KFS were required to
implement were:
ü Fencing operation area to keep off
non-ferry users.
ü Erection of surveillance towers,
which are manned by trained security guards, equipped with advanced
surveillance equipment such as binoculars and telescopes.
ü Robust and strong gates have been
erected on operation area entrances and exits.
ü Effective communication system with
Kenya Ports Authority, Lighthouse and other agencies such as the Kenya Navy.
ü Anti terrorist check/security: all
vehicles boarding the ferries must pass through security check points manned by
Kenya Anti-terrorist Police.
Other
security measures that have been put in place include: hired private guards to
control both the crowds embarking and disembarking from and in the ferries;
ensure smooth flow of traffic; ensure systematic in and outflows of both human
and motor traffic.
To uphold
the safety in the ferries, the engineering department preprograms and handles
all the maintenance for the ferries and its assets. The department does:
routine maintenance to ensure that each ferry is serviced at least once every
week; planned maintenance as per the manufacturer’s schedules; Lloyds Class
Requirements including annual survey and inspection for mechanical and safety
conditions of the vessel, docking survey for structural conditions, cathodic protections
against sea barnacle growth, and general operating equipment, and special
surveys of the complete overhauling of all operating equipment.
